Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation

Be Prepared for the Impacts of Climate Change

Evidence is growing that climate change results such as global warming and sea level rise are having a discernable impact on natural resources, human communities, and infrastructure around the world. Drawing on our expertise in climate science and impact analysis, SAIC is pioneering new studies and approaches to understand climate impacts.

We also help our customers respond to climate impacts by identifying and ranking potential climate risks, then applying integrated planning and engineering to create short- and long-term strategies for adapting to these risks.

Vulnerability and Adaptation Planning

SAIC pioneers new studies to improve the world's understanding of climate change and its impacts. We explore issues ranging from land cover changes, water supply and demand shifts, health impacts, habitat and ecosystem changes, and public infrastructure vulnerability. We facilitate multi-disciplinary research, modeling, and analysis, and design effective strategies for adaptation.

Case Studies

Incorporating Climate Change Risk Into Strategic Planning for the Utility Sector

In an innovative study for a large west coast municipal utility, SAIC developed a comprehensive Climate Change Response and Greenhouse Gas Strategic Plan. SAIC conducted a regional climate science analysis, established future climate scenarios, and analyzed these for load and emissions constraints. We factored in a range of assumptions regarding fuel prices, demographics, climate change legislation, and physical changes in the environment including extreme high temperature impacts; expected changes in precipitation, river flow, and water resources; hydroelectricity impacts; and flooding risk. SAIC then developed a strategic plan and prioritized response actions.

Focus 2050 Study on Implications of Future Climate Change

To help the San Diego Foundation develop a regional study on the future implications of climate change, SAIC is projecting current demographic and economic trends to 2050 to model the potential impacts of major climatic changes such as increased temperatures and decreased water availability.

International Climate Adaptation Assessments

In support of the U.S. Geological Survey, SAIC facilitated partnerships with USAID, NASA and other agencies to develop models for estimating changes in land cover and land use in the Northern Great Plains, Alaska, Costa Rica, East Africa, and China.

For the Canadian government, SAIC undertook a scoping exercise to examine the potential effects of climate change on managing contaminated sites in Canada, which included recommendations for further research and adaptation planning.

Energy Sector Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change

SAIC worked with the U.S. Department of Energy and the UK Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research to develop a framework for assessing climate change impacts on the U.S. energy industry.

Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the State of California

SAIC helped the California Resources Agency prepare a climate change adaptation strategy for state agencies. We summarized climate change impacts forecasted over the coming decades, worked with six state working groups to develop climate vulnerability assessments, and developed a framework for synthesizing and ranking response strategies. SAIC prepared the final draft adaptation strategy for California.